mercer



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, E. MERCER.

' Cotton Press.

' No. 235,272. Patented Dec. 7,1880.

MW 84w. MW

dM ha ww, a

-IPEIEHS. EHGTO-"THOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

-B. MERGER.

Cotton Press.

No. 235,272. Patented Dec. 7.1880.

1 fifiineaww, Even an a WMW26 g q NPETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON. o c.

(No Model.) 3.8haets-Sheet 3.

B. MERGER. Cotton Press.

No. 235,272. Patented Dec. 7,1880.

i woes. 53;- 7 un K MPEFGIS. PHQTO-UTHOGRAPMER wAsHlNGIoN. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

EDWARD MERCER, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

COTTON-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,272, dated December '7, 1880.

To all whom 'tt may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD MERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Presses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of abalingpress embodying the improvements of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same from the opposite end, and Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

This invention has relation to baling-presses for baling cotton, hay, and the like; and it consists in the improved features of construction and combination hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A indicates the frame portion of the machine, carrying the working parts thereof; and A indicates auxiliary uprights, connected to the main frame at the top by girders A carrying the pulleys K.

B designates a transverse shaft, jonrnaled in bearings O at opposite sides of the press.

The letter E represents a receiving and compressing chamber, into which the material to be compressed is fed in any suitable manner. Said chamber is rectangular in shape, and is provided at each end with narrowhinged doors F, closed by buttons f.

G and H indicate a follower, of the .ordinary construction, adapted to be drawn or forced down in the chamber and compress the bale. F F are doors, which, when closed, fill up the guideway in the ends of the press-chamber and prevent the materiahfrom protruding. The said doors F F are opened to allow the follower-beam G to descend when compressing, and are kept closed by. thebuttons f. The said follower supported by chains, cords, or ropes I at eachend,fpassed over the pulleys K and connected to a Windlass, I1, which may be rotated by means of a crank or othersuitable means, for the purpose of elevating the'beam, when desired.

At each end of the follower are secured the Application filed November 3, 1880. (No model.)

hangers M, in which are journaled the pulleys N, over which the cords, chains, or ropes I are passed.

When the follower G H has been elevated after pressing one bale, said follower is drawn away frbm the mouth of the chamber E and rests upon the top of the frame A, as shown in Fig. 2, until the receiving-chamber is again filled to form the next bale.

The cords or chains 1 at each end of the apparatus connect with drums on the drivingshaft 0, so that when the shaft is rotated the cords or chains 1 will be wound thereon to draw the follower down upon the material to be pressed.

The sides P are held in place by a bar, It, one end of which is provided with a crank, S, by means of which said bar may be readily operated.

T indicates a ratchet-wheel secured to the main shaft B of the. machine, and U a lever fulcrumed between standards V, attached to the bed of the machine. The said lever carries two pawls, A A adapted to alternately engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel as the lever is reciprocated, in such manner as to rotate the main shaft in aforward direction and wind the rope or chain upon the drums B, to bring the cross-beam G and bars H composing the platen to bear upon the material to be compressed.

The letter 0 indicates a pawl or dog, which engages the ratchet-wheel and serves as a detent to hold it against backward pressure as the said ratchet is advanced by the pawls A B Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is The combination, in a cotton-press, with a main frame adapted to inclose the balingchamber and to support mechanism for operating the follower, of an auxiliary frame consisting of the uprights A and girders A, the said uprights being parallel to said frame and at a suitable distance therefrom, as shown, whereby provision is made for supporting the follower when partially removed from the baling-chamber to admit of its being refilled, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD MERGER.

Witnesses:

M. A. BELL, E. BEGKTOLDT. 

